Bluford Shops N 65290 8-Panel 2-Bay Hopper, Toledo and Ohio Central (NYC) #831749

A majority of 8-panel hoppers were the result of the rebuilding of other styles of 2-bay hoppers. Offset side hoppers were particularly good candidates for this conversion. The argument for the offset side car is that by placing the side sheets on the outside of the ribs, you could then fill the volume between the ribs with coal (or other commodity.) The downside was that the offset side cars were more difficult to build and repair. Also, the load often packed in the corners between the rib and side sheets, trapping moisture and making repairs more frequent. Rebuilding them with 8 full length panels and 9 posts was relative easy and cheap, more than making up for the loss in cubic capacity. The rebuilt car could provide another 15 to 25 years of revenue service.

Many hoppers rebuilt by New York Central's Despatch Shops were given TOC reporting marks. TOC was Toledo & Ohio Central, which had been controlled by NYC since 1910. It ran southeast from Toledo, through Columbus, over the Ohio River and into the West Virginal coal fields. NYC leased the T&OC in 1922 at which point it became a "paper railroad." It was finally merged into NYC in 1952. Since the TOC reporting marks were still assigned to New York Central, they could be used to easily identify cars that were subject to a specific equipment trust. The TOC road numbers were sprinkled through the NYC number series.

Features:
Ready-to-run
Die cast slope sheet-hopper bay-center sill assembly
Injection molded plastic sides, ends, and hopper doors
Fully molded brake tank, valve and air lines
Body mounted brake hose detail
Load included
Body mounted magnetically operating knuckle couplers
Close coupling
Metal wheels